• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.501-507
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• 2010

The aim of the current study was to analyze the diversity of the major surface protein (Msp) gene in Theileria buffeli, which is known as the major antigenic protein recognized by the immune system of the host. In addition, we characterized the diversification of the Msp gene and its relationship to with the pathogenicity of Theileria. Complete blood counts (CBC) and Theileria 18S rRNA PCR sequence analysis were performed for 177 Korean indigenous cattle (KIC) in Jeju Island. A total of 28 KIC (16 anemic and 12 non-anemic KIC) were then randomly selected based on 18s rRNA PCR positive samples for sequence analysis of the Theileria Msp gene, which was performed twice for each specimen. The resulting 56 Msp gene sequences were classified into five antigenicity types (type I to V), according to the variable region (517-571 bp), which exhibited high similarity (${\geq}$ 98.9%) to several available GenBank sequences (Theileria spp. from China-EU584237; T. sergenti from China-DQ078264; Theileria spp. from Thailand-AB081329; Theileria spp. from Japan-AB218442; T. sergenti from Japan-AB016280). The 56 Msp sequences consisted of 22, 15, 9, 8, and 2 cases of type I to type V Msp genes, respectively. The most prevalent type in both anemic and non-anemic KIC was type I (37.5% in anemic and 41.7% in non-anemic). Among the remaining types, type II was the most prevalent (37.5%) in anemic KIC, while type IV was the most prevalent (25%) in non-anemic KIC. The results of our study help confirm the diversity of Msp gene types and demonstrate that the gene type distribution of Msp genes varies among Theileria-infected KIC in Jeju Island.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.502-513
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• 2016

In this study, heavy metal distributions in the tissues of feral pigeon (Columba livia) were characterized using samples collected from bio-monitoring sites (Hangang Park and Hampyeong Park) of the NESB (National Environmental Specimen Bank), Korea, in order to evaluate the feasibility of feral pigeons as an indicator for the environmental monitoring. Cadmium (Cd) was analyzed to be accumulated in kidneys at higher concentration than in the other tissues. Such trend can also be found in the reviews on the Cd accumulations of the 34 cases including 17 avian species which showed that 31 cases had the highest Cd concentrations in the kidney among tissues. However, lead (Pb) was found to be richest in the bones in this study. 17 cases out of 30 reviewed cases had the highest Pb concentration in bones, whereas other 10 cases showed the highest concentration in kidneys, and 3 cases in livers. Therefore, kidneys together with bones can be a main target organ to test cadmium exposure to different habitat environments depending on physiological traits of birds. Zinc (Zn) was found to be the highest concentration in the pigeon livers of Hangang Park, but not in the bones. In contrast, the 13 cases of 16 reviewed cases had the highest Zn concentration in bones, and the 3 cases in livers. In addition, the heavy metal distribution patterns in relations to the metal accumulation mechanisms (a competition between Pb and Ca, a function of methallothionein protein, and etc.) were discussed.